JPM Integra Cup Final Race at Sepang This Sunday, 17 December 2006
Kuala Lumpur, Friday, 15 December, 2006 – The overall winners of the inaugural JPM Integra Cup Malaysia will be announced this Sunday, when the final round is held at the Sepang Circuit. This round poses a different kind of challenge for the drivers as they contest against each other in three sessions of a 30-lap endurance race.
With each session offering a maximum of 11 points with 10 points for an outright win and one point for the fastest lap, the battle for the overall winners is thrown wide open especially with the competition running as an endurance event.
“ I would say anything could happen this Sunday. On top of points offered for each of the race, there are also points to be won in qualifying. So, there’s plenty of championship points on offer at the final round,” says event coordinator Noordin Saasi.
After eight rounds, Sharjihan Ghouse, the 1998 winner of the Proton 300km Merdeka Race, leads the Drivers’ Championship with 65 points. Faizal Hakimi Jaafar is second with 56 points and 2003 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race (MME) winner Firhat Mokhzani with 44 points.
2004 MME winner Mohamed Farriz Fauzy and Eric Yeo, Malaysian Super Series champion in 2002 and 2004, have a mathematical chance of winning the championship title despite being behind with 41 and 35 points respectively.
“The fight for the overall Team Championship title is even closer with just four points separating the top three teams,” said Noordin, adding that Sharjihan leads with 70 points; followed by Faizal Hakimi Jaafar with 68 total points, with the partnership of Firhat and the Nik Iruwan Nik Izani in third place with 66 points.
Apart from the Advance Category Drivers’ Championship and the overall Team Championship, the JPM Integra Cup Malaysia also has a Novice Category Drivers’ Championship and the Gentlemen Category Drivers’ Championship.
In the Gentlemen Category, three drivers are still in the running for the overall Gentlemen Championship. They are Melvin Choo (73 points), Lee Kok Kwan (62 points) and Tan Kim Wah (55 points). Similarly, three drivers are still vying for the Novice Category Championship; Razak Al-Malique (71 points), Razlan Razali (70 points) and Syed Zaid Albar (48 points).
Explaining further on the race format, Noordin said the event would feature a three-hour relay race that will be split into 3 motos of 30 laps each on the North Track of the Sepang Circuit.
“There will be a one-hour break between each moto. Each moto winner in the respective categories will be awarded with 10 points. In addition to the race points, one point will be awarded for the driver with the fastest lap for each moto, and three points will be awarded to the best qualifier during the morning qualifying session.
“The race would also introduce another twist as each car will be allowed one guest driver to drive for the participant on one of the three motos,” Noordin added.
Introduced this year, competitors in the JPM Inetgra Cup Malaysia compete against each other in a level playing field; using Honda Integra machines prepared by JPM Motorsports and Mugen.
POINTS STANDINGS AFTER 8 ROUNDS
Drivers’ Advanced Category :
1. Sharjihan Ghouse 65 points
2. Faizal Hakimi Jaafar 56 points
3. Firhat Mokhzani 44 points
4. Mohamed Farriz Fauzy 41 points
5. Eric Yeo 35 points
Drivers’ Gentlemen Category :
1. Melvin Choo 73 points
2. Lee Kok Kwan 62 points
3. Tan Kim Wah 55 points
4. Erwan Azizi 35 points
5. TP Chin 26 points
Drivers’ Novice Category :
1. Razak Al-Malique 71 points
2. Razlan Razali 70 points
3. Syed Zaid Albar 48 points
4. Chan Boon Yong 34 points
5. Melvinder Singh 31 points
THE PROGRAMME
09:00am 09:20am Drivers’ Briefing
09:40am 10:40am Official Free Practice
11:20am 11:40am Integra Cup Qualifying (Lead Driver Only)
11:40am 01:00pm Lunch Break
01:00pm 01:45pm Moto One
01:45pm 02:45pm Rest period
02:45pm 03:30pm Moto Two
03:30pm 04:30pm Rest Period
04:30pm 05:15pm Moto Three
05.45pm Podium Ceremony
